William Roache

William Patrick Roache MBE was born on April 25, 1932, in Basford, Nottinghamshire, England. He grew up in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, and attended a Steiner school established by his grandfather, who had diverse interests including theosophy and spiritualism. Roache later studied at Rydal School. He joined the British Army in 1953, was commissioned into the Royal Welch Fusiliers, and was promoted to lieutenant a year later. He left the army in 1956 with the rank of captain, having sustained tinnitus due to an exploding mortar round during his service. After his military career, Roache transitioned to acting, appearing in various stage productions and minor roles in television serials such as ‘Knight Errant Limited’ and ‘Skyport,’ and an uncredited role in the Norman Wisdom film ‘The Bulldog Breed’ (1960).

Roache’s career progressed significantly when he took on the leading role in the Granada Television play ‘Marking Time’ in 1961. This performance led to his casting as Ken Barlow in ‘Coronation Street,’ a role he has played since the first episode on December 9, 1960. This continuous portrayal has made him the longest-serving living television actor in a continuous role, a record recognized by the Guinness World Records. His dedication to the role was honored with “This Is Your Life” in 1985 and the British Soap Awards Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999. In 2003, he appeared as Perry Como on “Celebrity Stars in Their Eyes,” and in 2005, he competed in “Ant & Dec’s Gameshow Marathon.” He has authored several autobiographies, including ‘Ken and Me’ (1993) and ‘Soul on the Street’ (2008), with a significant philosophical focus on the afterlife, and ‘Life and Soul: How to Live a Long and Healthy Life’ (2018).

Throughout his career, Roache has maintained his role on ‘Coronation Street,’ resuming filming in June 2014 after a legal matter. He was recognized with an MBE in the 2001 New Year Honours and an Honorary Doctor of Letters by the University of Chester in 2007 for his contributions to television. In 2022, he received an OBE for services to drama and charity. His biography, ‘The Times and Life of William ‘Bill’ Roache: Actor for the Ages,’ was released to coincide with his 90th birthday in 2022. Roache continues to express his desire to play Ken Barlow for many more years.